The Eastern High School Starz dance team traveled to McCutcheon High School in Lafayette Saturday and brought home an Indiana High School Dance Team Association regional championship in the Jazz category.

The Starz were third in Pom. They will compete at the IHSDTA State Finals on March 9.

The East Washington Middle School team finished second in both Jazz and Pom.

Members of the EHS Starz pictured (in no particular order) are Liberty Lincks, Shae Calfee, Kaelin Hopper, Addyson Goodmen, Caitlyn Fleming, Kaylee Harris, Taylor Brown, Emily Browning, and Delaney Bricker:

(Photo and story by George Browning)

Police have concluded their investigation and found the threat toward Salem Middle School without merit.

School resource Officer Ron Mays investigated.

As an added precaution there will be additional officers on campus tomorrow.

All activities will resume as normal.

SMS administration was made aware after school dismissal today that a student made a statement regarding school safety.

LItIis not knownkhow or totwho the threat was made.

Police was contacted to conduct a full investigation of the statement to determine credibility.

School officials anticipated the resolution of the matter prior to the school day tomorrow. (Friday)

Salem Middle School administration was made aware after school dismissal today that a student made a statement regarding school safety. 

School is expected to run at the normal time on Friday, according to Superintendent DL Reed.

It is not known how the statement was made and who it was directed at. 

Law enforcement has been contacted to conduct a full investigation of the statement to determine credibility. 

According to SMS Principal Jennifer Lawyer, administration anticipates the resolution of this matter prior to the school day tomorrow (Friday). 

Updated information will be released as the investigation is conducted.

“A Taste of Lamb” Event to be Held The Washington County Sheep Association is hosting “A Taste of Lamb” on Monday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Southern Hills Church located just south of
Salem on State Road 135.

This year the “Taste of Lamb” will feature a Lamb Cook-off. Attendees will enjoy a complete meal featuring approximately six locally grown lamb dishes.

Attendees will then vote for their favorite lamb dish and prizes will be awarded to the top three. Those in attendance will also learn how to prepare lamb, and can take home recipes to try.

The cost for “A Taste of Lamb” meal is $10 per person. Reservations are required.

Please RSVP by calling the Purdue Extension – Washington County
office at 812-883-4601 by Friday, March 1.

The Washington County Sheep Association has also created a Lamb Cookbook with more than 170 lamb recipes.

These cookbooks will be for sale at the Taste of Lamb or can be purchased from the Purdue Extension – Washington County
office (806 Martinsburg Rd., Suite 104, Salem) for $10 each.

The Washington County Cattlemen s Association and Washington County Pork Producers Association will hold a joint Annual Meeting on Monday, March 11 at the New Hope Methodist
Church, located on State Rd 60 West. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Reservations need to be called into the Purdue Extension Office (812-8834601) by Wednesday, March 6.

The Annual Meeting is for anyone interested in the beef or pork industry. The Washington County Cattlemen’s Association annual membership dues are $15.00 and the Washington County Pork Producers annual membership dues are $10. These can be paid at the door.

Evaluation of bulls for breeding soundness is one of the most neglected management practices of Indiana’s cattle producers. A bull is expected to settle 20 to 50 cows during the breeding season and too often his ability to do so is taken for granted.

The evaluation should be done prior to the breeding season. Breeding problems that are discovered at pregnancy checking occur far too late to prevent substantial loss of income. Breeders that sell bulls should have them evaluated prior to the sale.

Bull suppliers depend largely on repeat customers and selling an infertile bull may cost the breeder a good customer as well as create a lot of bad advertisement.

The breeding soundness exam cannot guarantee fertility but it is the best method available to predict which bulls will not settle cows. Approximately 10% of bulls will fail the Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE).

The routine BSE will not detect bulls with low libido; therefore, observation of the bull in the breeding pasture is still important. Observe bulls to confirm that they are finding and mating cows
that are in heat. Observe the same cows in three weeks to be sure that he is “settling cows”.

The BSE includes an evaluation of structural soundness, evaluation of the reproductive anatomy and, most importantly, evaluation of semen quality. During the BSE, a semen sample is collected and evaluated immediately for percent motile sperm.

Minimally, 30% of the sperm must be motile in order for
the bull to pass the exam. The same sample is then stained and individual sperm are evaluated.

Seventy percent of the cells must be normal microscopically for the bull to be acceptable.

The BSE Clinic scheduled for Washington County will be held on Wednesday, March 13 at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Salem. For reservations or more information, contact Danielle
Walker at 812-883-4601 or dhowellw@purdue.edu by Wednesday, February 27. Reservations are required.

The evaluation charge is $40 per bull. Bulls must be at least one year old and weigh at least 900 pounds.

BSE Clinics are conducted annually through the joint cooperation of Purdue Extension – Washington County, Washington County Cattleman’s Association and Spring Mill Veterinary Service.

It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution.